Official emblem of Universidade de Coimbra

Universidade de Coimbra

Coimbra, Portugal • Founded 1290 • QS 2027 #342 =

Updated May 2026 · Source: uc.pt

Overview

English Name: University of Coimbra
Local Name: University of Coimbra
Acronyms: UC
Founded: 1290
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Religious Affiliation: None
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #342 = Times Higher Education 2026 #401-500 ARWU (Shanghai) 2026 #401-500 CWTS Leiden 2025 #664 SCImago 2026 #435
Motto: Insignia Universitatis Conimbrigensis
Colours: Green, black and white
Universidade de Coimbra campus building
1 / 2

Founded in 1290, the Universidade de Coimbra (University of Coimbra) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the small city of Coimbra (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants).

Officially recognized by the Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior, Portugal (Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal), Universidade de Coimbra (UC) is a large-sized coeducational Portuguese higher education institution. Universidade de Coimbra (UC) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.

This 733-year-old Portuguese higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic records and grades. The acceptance rate range is 40-49% making this Portuguese higher education organization an averagely selective institution.

International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.

UC also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

Geographic and contact information for Universidade de Coimbra is listed below.

Address: Reitoria Paço das Escolas
Postal Code: 3004-531
Other Sites: Polo III (Cruz de Celas) near the University Hospital; Polo II (Pinhal de Marrocos) where is located the Sciencies and Technologies courses; Faculty of Economics (Avenida Dias da Silva), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education (near the river)
Phone: +351 (239) 859 810
Fax: +351 (239) 825 841
Social Media:

Academic Details

Universidade de Coimbra's student body, faculty composition, and recognition framework are below.

Academic Year: September to July (1st semester September- mid-February; mid-February - July)
Recognition: Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior, Portugal
Accrediting Agency: Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior (DGES); Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education
Admission Requirements: Secondary school certificate and entrance examination
Total Students: 25,662
Academic Staff Range: 1,000-1,499
Full-Time Academic Staff: 3,100
Academic Staff with Doctorate: 1,760
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
European University Association (EUA) Coimbra Group Utrecht Network Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI) Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics (ADAI)

Academic Structures

Universidade de Coimbra's academic structure — schools, colleges, and divisions — is listed below.

Unit 11 items
  • College of Arts
  • Faculty of Arts and Humanities
  • Faculty of Economics
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences
  • Faculty of Sciences and Technology
  • Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education
  • Institute for Interdisciplinary Research
  • Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health

Degrees

Also Postgraduate and Specialization Courses

Other 130 programs
  • Accountancy
  • Adult Education
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Restoration
  • Architecture
  • Art History
  • Astrophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Bioengineering
  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedicine
  • Biotechnology
  • Business Administration
  • Cell Biology
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Classical Languages
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Communication Studies
  • Community Health
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Engineering
  • Cultural Studies
  • Dentistry
  • Design
  • Development Studies
  • Earth Sciences
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Educational Administration
  • Educational Psychology
  • Educational Sciences
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Energy Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Studies
  • European Studies
  • Finance
  • Fine Arts
  • Food Science
  • Foreign Languages Education
  • Forensic Medicine and Dentistry
  • Genetics
  • Geography
  • Geography (Human)
  • Geological Engineering
  • Geology
  • Gerontology
  • Government
  • Health Sciences
  • Heritage Preservation
  • History
  • Human Rights
  • Humanities and Social Science Education
  • Industrial Chemistry
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Industrial Management
  • Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • Information Sciences
  • Information Technology
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Journalism
  • Labour and Industrial Relations
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Mass Communication
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Mathematics Education
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medical Technology
  • Medicine
  • Military Science
  • Mining Engineering
  • Modern Languages
  • Molecular Biology
  • Multimedia
  • Museum Studies
  • Native Language Education
  • Natural Resources
  • Neurosciences
  • Occupational Health
  • Pathology
  • Peace and Disarmament
  • Performing Arts
  • Petroleum and Gas Engineering
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physical Engineering
  • Physics
  • Political Sciences
  • Polymer and Plastics Technology
  • Portuguese
  • Primary Education
  • Private Administration
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration
  • Regional Planning
  • Safety Engineering
  • Science Education
  • Secondary Education
  • Social Policy
  • Social Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Studies
  • Social Work
  • Social and Community Services
  • Sociology
  • Software Engineering
  • Sound Engineering (Acoustics)
  • Sports
  • Sports Medicine
  • Teacher Training
  • Tourism
  • Town Planning
  • Translation and Interpretation
  • Transport Engineering
  • Water Management
  • Women's Studies

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior, Portugal.

Arts (College) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Architecture
  • Cinema and Television
  • Fine Arts
  • Performing Arts
Economics (Faculty) 12 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Educational Administration
  • Environmental Studies
  • Finance
  • Health Administration
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Labour and Industrial Relations
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Sociology
Humanities (Faculty) 16 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Archaeology
  • Archiving
  • Art Education
  • Art History
  • Classical Languages
  • Communication Studies
  • Documentation Techniques
  • Geography (Human)
  • History
  • Information Sciences
  • Journalism
  • Modern Languages
  • Native Language
  • Philosophy
  • Portuguese
  • Translation and Interpretation
Law (Faculty) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Law
  • Private Law
  • Public Administration
  • Public Law
Medicine (Faculty) 37 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Anatomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Biomedicine
  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Dental Technology
  • Dentistry
  • Dermatology
  • Dietetics
  • Embryology and Reproduction Biology
  • Epidemiology
  • Ergotherapy
  • Genetics
  • Health Sciences
  • Immunology
  • Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neurology
  • Nutrition
  • Occupational Health
  • Oncology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Paediatrics
  • Pathology
  • Periodontics
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Radiology
  • Social and Preventive Medicine
  • Sports Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Toxicology
Pharmacy (Faculty) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
Psychology and Education (Faculty) 11 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Cognitive Sciences
  • Curriculum
  • Educational Administration
  • Educational Sciences
  • Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • Neurosciences
  • Pedagogy
  • Psychology
  • Social and Community Services
  • Special Education
  • Teacher Trainers Education
Science and Technology (Faculty) 30 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Anthropology
  • Architecture
  • Biochemistry
  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Communication Studies
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Earth Sciences
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Geography
  • Geological Engineering
  • Geology
  • Industrial Chemistry
  • Information Technology
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Multimedia
  • Natural Sciences
  • Physical Engineering
  • Physics
  • Technology
Sports Science and Physical Education (Faculty) 2 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Physical Education
  • Sports
Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (Institute) Faculty details available

Specialisations & Subjects

No specified subjects listed.

Interdisciplinary Research (Research Division) Faculty details available

Specialisations & Subjects

No specified subjects listed.

Programs Offered

The full set of programmes Universidade de Coimbra offers is searchable and grouped by level below.

167 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Portugal

Bachelor's Degree 80 programmes

Bachelor's Degree in Biologia Marinha
Biological Sciences · 180 ECTS credits

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 80.

Master's Degree 63 programmes

Showing 10 of 63.

Doctorate 24 programmes

Showing 10 of 24.

Scholarships in Portugal

Funding options available to students studying in Portugal, alongside Universidade de Coimbra's costs.

Bolsa de Estudo (Ação Social)
Instituto para o Ensino Superior · Government funded
Annual non-repayable state grant towards the costs of attending a higher-education course or a compulsory professional internship, awarded for a full academic year when the student's household lacks adequate financial resources.
Bolsa Fulbright para Doutoramento (FCT)
Fulbright Portugal · Government funded
Fulbright doctoral award supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), listed on the Fulbright Portugal grants page.
Bolsa Fulbright para Investigação
Fulbright Portugal · Other funded
Fulbright research award for study or research in the United States, with variants supported by FCT, the Azores Regional Government and FLAD, listed on the Fulbright Portugal grants page.
Bolsa Fulbright para Mestrado
Fulbright Portugal · Other funded
Fulbright award listed on the Fulbright Portugal grants page for master's study; terms are published on the award's own page.
Erasmus+ Higher Education Mobility
Instituto para o Ensino Superior · Other funded · Travel
EU Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027) supporting mobility, cooperation and projects for students, teaching staff and researchers of Portuguese higher-education institutions; managed in Portugal by IES.
Gulbenkian Merit Scholarships
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation · Foundation funded · Renewable · 2,000 EUR per year · Combined · Covers Travel
EUR 2,000 per academic year plus a one-time EUR 2,000 grant for an international mobility period such as Erasmus; renewable until completion of the master's degree under the regulations.

How to apply to Universidade de Coimbra

How to apply to Universidade de Coimbra — a five-step structure.

  1. 1
    Identify the right programme

    Use the programme finder to browse Universidade de Coimbra's 167 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.

  2. 2
    Check entry requirements

    Programme-level requirements at Universidade de Coimbra typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.

  3. 3
    Prepare your application documents

    Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.

  4. 4
    Submit via the institution

    Universidade de Coimbra processes applications through www.uc.pt. Create an account, fill out the application form, and submit your documents. Note application deadlines, which vary by intake and programme.

  5. 5
    Get in touch with admissions

    Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. Reach the institution by phone at +351 (239) 859 810. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Universidade de Coimbra

Concise answers to common questions about Universidade de Coimbra.

In what year was Universidade de Coimbra established?

Universidade de Coimbra was founded in 1290 (approximately 736 years ago).

Where is Universidade de Coimbra located?

Universidade de Coimbra is located in Coimbra, Portugal.

Is Universidade de Coimbra a public or private institution?

Universidade de Coimbra is a public institution.

What is the student enrolment at Universidade de Coimbra?

Student enrolment at Universidade de Coimbra is around 25,662.

How is Universidade de Coimbra ranked?

Universidade de Coimbra is ranked QS 2027 #342 =.

How many faculties does Universidade de Coimbra have?

Universidade de Coimbra has 11 academic units.

Is Universidade de Coimbra officially recognised?

Yes, Universidade de Coimbra is recognised by Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior (DGES); Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education.

Where can I learn more about Universidade de Coimbra?

You can find Universidade de Coimbra online at www.uc.pt.

Members of European University Association (EUA)

Below: other European University Association (EUA) member institutions, alongside Universidade de Coimbra.

Faculties at nearby universities

Also in Coimbra: universities located close to Universidade de Coimbra.

Where Else to Study Medicine & Health

These universities in Portugal also offer Medicine & Health programmes, alongside Universidade de Coimbra.

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